OR Dept. of Forestry release - RICKREALL, Ore. - The Oregon Tree Farm System (OTFS) recently honored Roje Gootee from northern Grant County as Oregon’s 2026 Outstanding Tree Farmer of the Year. The honor was bestowed at the organization’s annual meeting held Nov. 15th at the Polk County Fair Grounds in Rickreall.  Gootee, owner of Rush Creek Ranch, was recognized for her 28 years spent restoring and managing her property for a wide range of conservation objectives, as well as for her leadership in promoting the health of forest and rangelands in the Blue Mountains of Northeast Oregon.  Gootee first purchased 1,962 acres of forest and range in 1997.  “As a 17-year-old freshman studying Forestry at Utah State University, I began saving so I could one day own my own forest,” she said.  Over an 18-year period she expanded her ranch to 3,345 acres, of which approximately 2,000 acres are forested, the rest in range.  She has restored ponderosa pine forests that were over-harvested by the previous owner, restored abandoned farm fields to forests, improved water quality through restoring riparian habitat and protecting upland springs, controlled invasive weeds, reduced the risk of wildfire, and removed invasive Western juniper encroaching on rangeland and forests.  Gootee has done much to improve the long term health of her property and its watershed. She said, ”For me it’s just such joy to see the land respond.”  Beyond her own property, she has helped neighbors develop stewardship plans for their properties and has played key roles in promoting the management of all private and public lands in Oregon’s Blue Mountain region.  In 1976, Gootee earned a B.S. degree in Forest Resource Management with a minor in Range Management from Utah State University, and in 2009, a PhD in Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences from Washington State University.  Through her natural resource academic studies, USDA Forest Service career in forest and range management, and managing her own property, Gootee has developed invaluable insights on how best to manage Oregon’s dryland forests.  She continues to share her insights through serving on numerous local, state and national private and public natural resource-related boards and commissions. She also works with local landowners and resource professionals.  “Roje is so humble for a person that has done so much for our forests,” reported Bob Parker, the local forester who recommended that she be honored for her land management and community accomplishments.  In addition to honoring Gootee, OTFS awarded Dell and Linda Jensen a Silver Award for management of their 185-acre John Downing Tree Farm near Marcola in Lane County. While the property has been in the family since 1908, the Jensens took charge of its management when inheriting it in 2022. They have spent a tremendous amount of time and energy in developing a sustainable timber harvest, improving its road system for active management, and converting brushy areas back to Douglas-fir forest.  Others who were recognized include:  Additional County Outstanding Tree Farmers of the Year:  • Laird-Shepherd Family of Columbia County, and • Allan and Kathleen Crandall of Yamhill County; Oregon Inspector of the Year – Tim Gurton.  Oregon Tree Farm inspectors are volunteer foresters who visit family forest landowners providing insights on how they can meet their forestland goals, and to certify that their forest meets the American Tree Farm System’s standards. Gurton visited and certified 25 landowners.  Pollinator Award – Mary Chamness.  This award is given to an individual whose volunteer efforts played a key role in the management of the organization.  Hagenstein Family Forestlands Achievement Award - Steve and Wylda Cafferata.  This award is presented to an individual(s) for outstanding contributions in promoting, supporting, and sustaining Oregon’s family owned forestlands.